Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)

Director:

F.W. Murnau

Writers:

Hermann Sudermann (original theme "Die Reise nach Tilsit")
Carl Mayer (scenario)

Release Date:

4 November 1927 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Crime

Plot:

A married farmer falls under the spell of a slatternly woman from the city, who tries to convince him to drown his wife.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Love | Adultery | Storm | Lost Negative

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

George O'Brien	...	The Man
Janet Gaynor	...	The Wife
Margaret Livingston	...	The Woman From the City
Bodil Rosing	...	The Maid
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	The Photographer (as J. Farrell McDonald)
Ralph Sipperly	...	The Barber
Jane Winton	...	The Manicure Girl
Arthur Housman	...	The Obtrusive Gentleman
Eddie Boland	...	The Obliging Gentleman

Also Known As:

Sunrise (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

94 min | Germany:106 min

Country:

USA

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Movietone) (musical score and sound effects) | Silent (alternate version)

Certification:

South Korea:15 (2004) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Germany:6 | Portugal:17 (director's cut) | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:U (video re-rating) | UK:A (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, California, USA

Company:

Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Director F.W. Murnau wanted Camilla Horn (with whom he had worked in Germany on Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage (1926)) for the part of "The Wife", but she was under contract to the German studio UFA at the time and they refused to loan her out, so the part went to Janet Gaynor.

Quotes:

The Man: [pleading to his wife] Don't be afraid of me!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A 15ª Pedra (2006)

A story of two humans.

SUNRISE is easily the greatest film made in the silent era. Murnau's story (or filmed poem, according to the credits) is about a troubled farmer (George O'Brien) and his secret girlfriend (Margaret Livingston) plotting to murder his wife (Janet Gaynor, possibly the sweetest, most likable adult character in film history!) The storyline, the dark, moody photography, the creepy sets (especially that swamp!) makes you think this will be a thriller with an unhappy ending, much like AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY. About half-way through the film, Murnau pulls such a daring 180 degree turn with his film, you'll shake your head, and will love it. I doubt film-makers today would try for such a daring move!

It is shame that Murnau died middle aged in 1931. Had he of lived another 30 years, and made films up until the age of Cinemascope, looser censorship, 60's technology, what great films we would have.